From This Day Forward Marriage Conference Kansas City, MO * April 30, 2005

KANSAS CITY, MO: On April 30, 2005 married couples from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska participated in From This Day Forward, a one-day celebration of marriage commitment opened to the general public and held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center.

Sponsored by Family Ministries of the North American Division, the Mid-America Union Conference, and the Central States, Iowa-Missouri and Kansas-Nebraska Conferences, this is the third of five From This Day Forward marriage conferences taking place across North America in 2005.

The event consisted of presentations made by Brenda and Mike Aufderhar from the Upper Columbia Conference, Januwoina and John Nixon from the Oakwood College Church in Huntsville, Alabama, and by Elaine and Willie Oliver from the North American Division's Family Ministries. During a day that lasted from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, couples learned skills on communication, problem solving, forgiveness and commitment, as well as a greater understanding for dealing with the more intimate aspects of married life.

"Truly excellent; this really helped me with some issues I had before I came. Now I have forgiven my husband and will start communicating more" a participant shared in her evaluation of the conference. Five of the participants requested Bible studies and are being followed-up.

From This Day Forward marriage conferences have already taken place in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 22 and Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 12. Two more such events will take place before the end of the year in Seattle, Washington on September 17, and South Bend, Indiana on October 8.

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Written by: Willie Oliver, Director of Family Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America